Keeping Him From Living A Normal Life

Too many times we take things for granted. We expect things to happen because they are just supposed to happen.

Most of us would expect to be able to go on a school sponsored trip if we had been planning for it for the last two years. We would expect to get on that airplane and have the time of our lives. We would learn new things, meet new people and experience new things.

The El Paso Independant School District wanted that for several students who were going on the Lincoln Middle School 8th Grade History Tour.

But thats not what they wanted for Kyle. Why? Because Kyle is in a wheelchair. The School District was discriminating against Kyle because of his disabilty.

How can they tell a fourteen year old who had been planning for and looking forward to going on this trip that he could not go because of his wheel chair?



Kyle deserves to live the life a normal 14 year old. Look at these pictures.








He does what any mischievous 14 year old would do. And like the other 14 year olds in his class he wants to go on this trip.




On Friday May 21st his mother and about 25 supporters gathered at the El Passo Independant School District Offices to ask the district to allow Andy to go on the trip. The School District had changed their mind the night before and allowed Andy to go on the trip but insisted that it was not a school sponsored function.

If it wasn't a school sponsored function than how can the School District "allow" him to go? Don't worry I didn't understand that myself. The important thing is that Kyle is on his trip as you read this. Kyle is living the life of a normal 14 year old.

I can't wait for him to come back. I wan't to hear his stories, the stories he will be telling for the rest of his life. Not too many people get a chance to go to Washington D.C. and visit the White House.

Fortunately this ended in a happy ending. But how many times does it not?

Discrimination knows no color, knows no sex or ability. Discrimination is discrimination and it is wrong!

I am glad to report that the family will pursue further action. What they did to Kyle was wrong and will happen again to another child if no one puts a stop to it. Next time you talk to an El Paso Independant School District Trustee or Board Member tell them what you think about what they did to Kyle. We need to hold our elected officials accountable for their actions.